Overview

Pioneer is ESA Telecommunications programme to support emergence of new providers of innovative space-based services. Pioneer helps develop the infrastructure of these new companies for low cost and quick access to space. The capability to deliver space-based services is validated through at least one Pioneer flight mission. 

Objectives

Pioneer objectives are :

i.  Supporting industry competitiveness by:

• Lowering the entry barriers for demonstration of new technologies and applications;
• Attracting entrepreneurs and service providers to adopt new solutions.

 ii.    Supporting emergence of new space mission providers:

• Single interface for customers wishing to demonstrate innovative solutions;
• Affordable and timely access to space;
• Operation and decommissioning of space infrastructure.

iii.    Implementation of in-orbit validation missions:

• One or more validation missions to demonstrate and showcase the service.

Pioneer Private Partners

To reach the above objectives, the Agency supports the emergence of commercial entities interested in becoming one-stop-shop service providers for public and private customers. Pioneer private partners are expected to:

− act as a single interface point for their customers who want to demonstrate, validate or operate, in a representative environment, innovative solutions requiring new space segment elements 

− offer an affordable and timely access to space for testing, validating and operating innovative solutions that require new space segment elements 

− ensure that the operations and decommissioning of space infrastructure are compliant with relevant international standards and guidelines, including those related to space debris mitigation. 

The Pioneer private partners need to be equipped with: 

− capabilities and competences, including inter alia: end-to-end mission definition, design, assembly, integration and test, deployment, operation, decommissioning, frequency spectrum management, customer interface standardization and tools, etc.; 

− infrastructure building blocks, including inter alia: satellite platform and payload, communication tools and equipment for mission payload data and TT&C uplink and downlink, launch services, insurance services, ground control station for teleporting and communication infrastructure services, etc. 

Pioneer private partners are expected to maximise the re-use of existing capabilities and infrastructure building blocks. 

Validating the Service In-Orbit

As part of the Pioneer Programme, each of the Space Mission Provider is expected to build and launch one (or more) in-orbit validation Mission(s) with the purpose of demonstrating the respective service and as a showcase for future customers.

The private partner shall commit to implement and validate the infrastructure and service provision platform as well as to implement and operate the validation mission. The private partner shall furthermore provide the necessary function and performance validation data to the Agency.

Pioneer Projects :  7 Space Mission Providers independent contracts 

	Sapion	Internet of Things service	3U Cubesat lunched in 2021 6U Cubesat to be launched in 2024	Launched in 2021	Open Cosmos, UK
	Striving	IOV services		Service validation mission planned in 2024	Sitael, Italy
	IODA	Telecomms and Earth observation services	150 kg Smallest	First launches planned in 2024	Airbus, France
	SAAS	Aviation, maritime and data services	3U & 6U Cubesat	16 S/C launched in 2018 to 2021  3 S/C to be launched in 2023/24	Spire Global, UK
	Faraday 2G	IOV services	150 kg Smallsat	6U Cubesat launched in 2021  First smallsat launch planned in 2025	In-Space Missions, UK
	xSPANCION	Telecomms and Earth observation services	8U & 16U Cubesat	First 4 S/C launch planned in 2024	AAC Clyde Space, UK
	CORVUS	IOV services	6U Cubesat	First launch planned in 2025	Spacemanic, CZ

Pioneer Partnership Projects (Pioneer 4.0) Open Call for Proposals

The Pioneer Open Call is aimed to offer the opportunity for new companies, from across all ESA member states and associates members, to participate in the Pioneer programme.

Industry can submit proposals at any time during the 2 year period of the call using a two-stage tendering process. The first step is to submit an outline proposal using the template available in the call.

Outline Proposals should be submitted to the Pioneer Open Call email address: Pioneer_CfP@esa.int

After acceptance of the outline proposal by the Agency and confirmation of financial support from the national delegation, industry will then be invited to submit a full proposal for a Pioneer Partnership Project.

The Pioneer Open Call can be found in esa-star with the following reference:

PIONEER PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS (PIONEER 4.0) - STANDARD CALL FOR PROPOSAL

Open date: 28 September 2023

Closing date: 31 October 2025

Activity Number: 1000038573

Tender Action Number: 4-40011​